Tuesday, June 3, 2008

"People around the world face violence and inequality – and sometimes torture, even execution – because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. More than 80 countries around the world still make it a crime for men to have sex with men, or women with women. In some countries, the punishment is death. Many laws punish people for simply looking differently, or not living up to cultural norms of “masculinity” or “femininity.

The Yogyakarta Principles – named for the Indonesian city where they were adopted in 2006 by a panel of international experts – lay out clear standards for how governments should end violence, abuse, and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and ensure equality. We urge the United Nations to endorse the Yogyakarta Principles, and to call for an end to violence and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Tell the world’s governments to stop criminalizing people because of who they are or whom they love."